"Because he went round the outside, into a gap that could have disappeared, but planted it and got it done" I am not doubting SV's bravery but Vandoorne was getting out of the way so the gap was unlikely to close.

Thing with overtaking between two cars is the gap can close from two sides. Even if Vandoorne got out of the way and wouldn't actively close the gap, he was still there, and Bottas could have run Vettel out more which would/could have closed the gap.

It's the presence of another car on the outside that made this a tricky one.

agreed, vandoorne could have easily been used as a wall/ barrier preventing vettel from having the room to get by bottas. the move was ballsy for sure by vettel he could have been clipped by either side dependent on how much bottas moved to his right. It was one of those close your eyes and hope for the best moments imo.

Sainz move was the best as Perez did try to defend. Other overtaking there was not aggressive failed defense by the other driver and last option was illegal as MV took shortcut so that should not even be there in the list.

I don't get the Vettel on Bottas love at all. Bottas barely put up a defence

Maybe due to the point of the race at which it happened and vettel desperately needing to get back into 2nd after there ploy to get the merc's to change strategy didnt take. There was a sense of urgency compared to some of the other overtakes perhaps